Hagan is big spender as May 3 primary nears

The state senator bought $40,000 worth of television and radio ad time.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Sen. Robert F. Hagan raised and spent more money from Jan. 1 to April 13 in his quest to win the May 3 mayoral primary than the six other Democratic candidates in the race combined.
Hagan raised $75,033 during that time, receiving contributions from local residents and individuals in Lakewood and New York City, as well as from political action committees from throughout Ohio.
Hagan's state Senate committee was his largest contributor, transferring $9,613 to his Youngstown mayoral committee.
Those running in the May 3 primary who raised or spent $1,000 were required to file financial disclosure reports Thursday with their county board of elections.
Hagan's campaign paid $40,000 -- 59 percent of his expenditures from Jan. 1 to April 13 -- to Two Ticks and the Dog Productions, a Warren company, for production costs and TV and radio ad purchases.
Hagan also spent more than $5,000 on postcards and letters mailed to Youngstown residents.
Other candidates
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. was a distant second among Democratic mayoral candidates when it came to raising money. Patton raised $14,300 during the pre-primary period of Jan. 1 to April 13. He brought $6,482 from his Ohio House re-election committee to the campaign before Jan. 1.
Patton bought $8,000 worth of cable TV ads through Time Warner, Youngstown's cable TV company. He also paid $1,409 to Advantage Video Productions of Warren for the taping of his TV commercials, and $1,000 to McConnell Marketing of Youngstown for a TV production agency fee.
While Patton was No. 2 in the fund-raising category, Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. was second in spending among the candidates, doling out $28,671.
Bush raised $6,400 during the pre-primary period, and raised $17,060 before Jan. 1. Bush's campaign had a $5,211 shortfall as of April 13, offset somewhat by a $3,200 outstanding loan he gave the campaign.
Bush paid $23,119 to Rubenstein Associates of Liberty for media advertising, nearly draining his campaign war chest.
With a few weeks to go in the campaign, former council President John R. Swierz has the most money stockpiled. Swierz had $12,999 coming into 2005, and raised $12,975 through April 13. He spent $7,212 as of April 13, and had $18,761 in his campaign account as of that date.
Swierz spent $1,800 on yard signs, billboards and radio ads.
Council President James E. Fortune Sr. and Councilman Michael Rapovy of the 5th Ward trail the others. William Flickinger, who's never held political office, did not file a financial disclosure report.
Fortune raised $3,501 through April 13, and obtained a $2,500 loan from lawyer Mark A. Hanni. Fortune paid $3,500 to Metro Media of Youngstown for advertising.
Rapovy had $1,310 in his campaign fund coming into 2005, and didn't raise any money this year. He spent $1,000 on advertising.
Local contributors
Several political donors aren't taking any chances, and have contributed money to more than one candidate.
Atty. Michael Harshman gave $600 to Hagan and $100 to Bush. Thomas Fok, who runs an engineering and architectural firm, gave $1,000 to Bush, $2,000 to Hagan and $200 to Patton.
Restaurateur Anthony Saadey gave $100 each to Hagan and Swierz, and $200 to Patton. Sheriff Randall Wellington gave $100 to Swierz and $70 to Hagan. Robert Wasko, who owns a funeral home and is a member of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, gave $400 each to Hagan and Patton. Atty. Clair Carlin gave $100 each to Hagan, Patton and Bush. Former Mahoning County Commissioner Ed Reese gave $100 to Hagan and $200 to Fortune.
skolnick@vindy.com